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Corruption

The OSCE has recognized corruption as a threat to security, economic development and to respect for human rights. Examples of OSCE work in on combatting corruption include assisting participating States  in implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); supporting participating States in their process of adhering to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations and standards; providing assistance in training officials on different facets of the prevention and fight against corruption, including integrity in public service, regulatory reform, preventing conflict of interest, developing national risk assessments in anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, promoting asset disclosure by public officials, and facilitating and encouraging engagement of state institutions with private sector and civil society in combating corruption; and collaborating with different national, regional, international and OSCE-wide stakeholders on anti-money laundering projects to combat trafficking in human beings. Helsinki Commissioners have actively promoted efforts to combat corruption in the OSCE region, focusing on grand corruption. In particular, they have highlighted the threat posed by authoritarian kleptocracy, a form of autocratic government that relies on financial globalization and secrecy to steal, pay off cronies, and maintain power. Commissioners have put forward numerous legislative proposals to counter this threat, including by heightening the priority of anti-corruption in U.S. foreign policy, providing further authorities to end the impunity enjoyed by kleptocrats, exposing kleptocratic misdeeds and preventing them from entering the United States, and highlighting the work of U.S. law enforcement to recover stolen money hidden in the United states. They have also promoted transparency in extractive industries as a means to promote improved security and equitable economic development in countries with significant oil, gas, and mineral resources.
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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission House Leadership Marks Fourth An...

Jun 06, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02) and Ranking Member Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09) marked the fourth annual Counter-Kleptocracy Month. The U.S. Helsinki Commission has marked Counter-Kleptocracy month since June 2021 […]

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Hearings

Russia’s Alpine Assets: Money Laundering and S...

Jul 18, 2023

Switzerland has for years been a primary destination for Russian money laundering and, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a weak link in Western sanctions enforcement. This Helsinki Commission hearing […]

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Press Releases

Hearing: Supporting a Democratic and Secure Moldova

Jul 06, 2023

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 2:00 pm Cannon House Office Building, Room 210 Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm-R6rfQbCo In recent years, Moldova has enacted numerous reforms under current Moldovan President Maia Sandu to […]

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Press Releases

Chairman Wilson and RM Cohen Mark Third Annual Count...

Jun 16, 2023

WASHINGTON—Today, Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson and Ranking Member Steve Cohen, Co-Chairmen of the Counter-Kleptocracy Caucus, marked the third annual Counter-Kleptocracy Month. “Foreign corruption and kleptocracy is the main reason […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commissioners Announce Re-introduction of C...

Jan 25, 2023

On Tuesday, Helsinki Commissioners Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Joe Wilson, and Senator Ben Cardin re-introduced the Combatting Global Corruption Act in both the House and Senate, along with Rep. Bill Keating, Rep. Maria […]

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Press Releases

Co-Chairman Cohen Calls for the Release of Political...

Aug 09, 2022

Washington – On the second anniversary of the sham presidential election in Belarus, the Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman and OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest July 2022

Jul 29, 2022

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Digests

HELSINKI COMMISSION DIGITAL DIGEST JUNE 2022

Jun 30, 2022

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest May 2022

Jun 01, 2022

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Briefings

Putin’s Bribetakers and Warmongers

May 19, 2022

The Helsinki Commission was briefed on 6,000 bribetakers and warmongers identified by Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation.

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commissioners Lead Bipartisan Ask for Biden...

May 12, 2022

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (MD), author of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and Chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), along with Helsinki […]

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Briefings

Russia’s Swiss Enablers

May 05, 2022

Long known as a destination for war criminals and kleptocrats to stash their plunder, Switzerland is a leading enabler of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his cronies. After looting Russia, […]

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